Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) — Nicole Kapu

Nicole decided to pursue a career in law while studying history and literature at Harvard University, USA. She is currently doing the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) at Oxford Brookes University

Why did you choose to study at Oxford Brookes?

Having previously been a visiting student at St Catherine's College, Oxford, I knew that I wanted to return to the city - it's a beautiful place to live and study.

I was initially drawn to Oxford Brookes because the assessments are spaced throughout the year, with two exams in the winter, three in the spring, and three in the summer. As GDL students cram three years of undergraduate law school into ten months, segmenting the material made revision a much more enjoyable and successful process.

Furthermore, GDL students at Oxford Brookes have full access to the Bodleian Law Library, one of the greatest university law libraries in the UK.

What has been the best bit about studying the GDL?

I had no legal experience on my CV when I began studying the GDL. However, the lecturers gave me advice on securing a vacation scheme, and provided opportunities to compete in client interviewing and mooting competitions. I graduated having secured three vacation schemes and a training contract, and was nationally ranked in various legal competitions.

Oxford Brookes understands the difficulties of getting a training contract or pupillage, and is as supportive of helping us develop our CVs as it is at helping us to obtain great marks.

What are you planning to do in the future?

I will study the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at BPP Holborn beginning in July 2016 and will start a training contract with Clifford Chance LLP in February 2017.